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Going into Saturday’s Lane’s End Stakes over the synthetic Polytrack surface at Turfway Park, the Grade 2, $500,000 prep didn’t promise to alter the standings of the Derby Dozen, given its lackluster field.

Even after the powerful performance by Adriano, who won by 2½ lengths under Edgar Prado, running the mile-and-an-eighth in 1:50.20, there still is a question of whether the Lane’s End will produce a starter for the May 3 Kentucky Derby.

“I thought he was extremely impressive,” trainer Graham Motion said; but then he added: “I think we all agree he’s probably more of a turf horse.”

Adriano (by A.P. Indy out of a Mr. Prospector mare), a late (mid-May) foal, began his 3-year-old season with a runaway score on turf in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park. But then he ran a well-beaten ninth in the Fountain of Youth on dirt. Motion said the April 19 Lexington, on Polytrack at Keeneland, could be the colt’s next start.

The biggest mystery of the year so far – 2-year-old champion War Pass’ last-place finish as the 1-20 favorite in the March 15 Tampa Bay Derby – is still a mystery.

Immediately after that loss, owner Robert LaPenta said War Pass ran a fever earlier in the week. But his Hall-of-Fame trainer, Nick Zito, later insisted the previously unbeaten colt was never sick. After being thoroughly checked out (scoped, X-rayed, etc.), War Pass returned to the track last Wednesday. Plans still call for him to run in the April 5 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

We recall that in 1984, Devil’s Bag – like War Pass, an unbeaten 2-year-old champ who easily won his first start at 3 for Hall-of-Fame horseman Woody Stephens – inexplicably finished fourth as the heavy favorite in his next start, the Flamingo. He bounced back to win the Forerunner by 15 lengths, then took the Derby Trial. But Devil’s Bag was retired before the Derby when a chip was discovered in his right knee, an injury that was surely percolating in the Flamingo.

Two other winners of Derby preps are off the Triple Crown trail. Sierra Sunset, who won the March 15 Rebel by three lengths, suffered a hairline fracture of his left front ankle and will be out 60 to 90 days.

Autism Awareness, who upset the March 8 El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows at odds of 62-1, was forced to the sidelines with a bone chip in his left front knee. He underwent surgery and will be out for four months.